The Portland Trail Blazers continue to dominate Eastern Conference opponents. They didn't fare nearly as well last season, partly due to losses to teams such as the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.
Continuing their run against clubs from the East, the Trail Blazers look to avoid a third straight loss to the Bobcats when the teams meet Saturday night in Charlotte.
Portland (24-15) is 2-1 on its current stretch of seven straight games against East opponents and is 13-3 versus them on the season -- the top mark among West clubs. Improved play against the East is a big reason the Blazers are in contention to earn a playoff berth for the first time in six years.
Last season, Portland went 15-15 against teams in the East and finished 41-41 overall. Two of those losses were against the Bobcats, who went 32-50 in 2007-08.
Part of the reason for Portland's improvement has been its depth, and that certainly proved true in its latest victory.
Jerryd Bayless got a chance to play at New Jersey on Thursday night with point guard Steve Blake sidelined with a separated shoulder, and he scored a career-high 23 points off the bench as the Blazers won 105-99. The rookie from Arizona, drafted 11th overall, scored 53 points in his previous 18 games.
Bayless, who had never scored more than eight points in a game, has had trouble breaking into coach Nate McMillan's rotation. With Blake expected to be out a week to 10 days, though, Bayless played 25 minutes versus the Nets.
Portland guard Brandon Roy thinks more time for Bayless is going to make the team better.
"I have been telling him to stay patient, that the minutes would come," Roy said. "He is the first guy in the gym and the last one out. If he gets comfortable, we are going to be dangerous. He is tough going to the basket and he opens up the floor. As he gets more confidence, we're going to be really tough."
Bayless may even be able to work his way into a starting role. Sergio Rodriguez replaced Blake in the starting lineup, but finished with four points in 22 minutes.
Charlotte (15-24) enters playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Bobcats posted their second straight win and fourth in the last six games Tuesday, 80-78 at Detroit. They haven't won three in row since March 26-29.
Raymond Felton, who sprained his right ankle in last Saturday's 92-89 victory at Washington, scored seven points in a crucial 9-0 run and hit the winning jumper with 0.7 seconds left against the Pistons as Charlotte overcame a 78-71 deficit in the final three minutes.
"This was about stepping up and being a leader," said Felton, who topped the Bobcats with 23 points and nine assists. "I was just trying to get shots for my teammates, but the ball kept coming back to me, so I took the shots and they went in."
While Felton seems fine, Bobcats rookie point guard D.J. Augustin will be out a minimum of 10 days with a strained abdominal muscle.
Augustin played only four minutes before leaving last Saturday's game after aggravating the injury that has plagued him for several days. An MRI Sunday revealed the strain, leaving the Bobcats without a key member of the rotation.
Augustin, the ninth pick in June's draft, is averaging 12.1 points and 4.1 assists.